2-2-01 - Good things about the local music scene

We used to think that the general public was not all too friendly. We figured the local music community would automatically reject anyone who was not in a band or at least 21. We now have a new view on the general population’s friendly-factor.

After Hot August Night at the Whitaker Center with Darcie Miner, The Martini Brothers, and The Badlees, we bought The Martini Bros. newest CD, Transmission, and had them autograph it. Once at home, we signed the guest book. To our surprise, we received personal responses.

A week later we went to Zee's. Before anyone went on stage, we bought The Martini Bros. first CD, Portable, and Deuce was nice enough to sign it and pose for a photo with us. The ladies in the lav were chatty with one another and included us in their conversations. After the show it was officially Melanie's birthday and she was 18. We got a photo with Mike and Deuce and Melanie received a birthday hug from Mike.

After some sleep that night, we saw The Martini Bros. at Media Play in the afternoon. There, Shannon, Melanie, and Shannon's mom were each given a pick from Mike. We also had Mike and Rej sign the CD Deuce had the previous night.

At Bruce Bond's Picnic in the Parking Lot, we were silly. For each band, Pete and Jeff of The Badlees, The Martini Bros. and Big Tubba Mista, we blew bubbles! Yeah, cheesy, we know, but we enjoyed it. We also gave the guys of The Martini Bros. mini gifts of candy cigarettes. (Cigarettes are bad for you!) Mike and Deuce were very talkative with us.

Not many days later, we attended the Toys for Tots Benefit at the Hilton. We arrived at 1 and left at 10:30, just missing Emily's Toybox's full set. It was great to see so many musicians sticking around. The bands in attendance were Locke with 2 Stuck Dogs, Juiced, Halestorm, UUU, Poptart Monkey's, Darcie Miner, Martini Bros., Big Tubba Mista, Dead 50s, and Emily's Toybox. After The Martini Bros. set, Deuce came over to greet us and we had a some random person take photo. On our way to the lav, Mike stopped us to gab. And of course we snapped up a photo with him.

After Christmas, we went to the Chameleon Club and saw Live Alien Broadcast, Mary Prankster, and, surprise surprise, The Martini Bros. Some drunken guy was having a jolly good time flailing around and in the process, knocked Melanie into a guy in front of her. She quickly apologized and he accepted saying that he knew it was not Melanie's fault. Mid crazy-drunk-man encounter, a woman in front of us insisted we step in front of her to see Mary Prankster in all her glory since it was our first time.

For New Year's Eve Shannon went to see the Badlees at the Whitaker Center, while Melanie saw the first set of The Martini Bros. outside in Market Square. Shannon met up with Melanie after the Badlees were done and we both bopped around to the music of the second set together. Shannon was surprised that she got through the crowd and made her way up to the front with Melanie, without hearing a complaint from any of the other New Year's Eve celebrators. We were surrounded by jolly people all around us. Not a pouty face was in sight. Some people seemed drunk, but it was probably all of the excitement of the New Year.

After dancing around and feeling special in the front row, Deuce chatted with us for a wee bit and later on Mike took the time to bond with Shannon’s parents. Scott, their roadie even patted Shannon on the shoulder as he walked by. This conflubbered her because she hadn’t even spoken to him before, but it just shows how friendly the local music scene is. After a crazy round of hugging spread throughout Deuce, Mike, and their pals, we all watched the fireworks and Mike got all chatty with us again. We felt special to be surrounded by a few of our favourite musicians, and we are looking forward to what 2001 has to come, including meeting more nice people.

In 2001 we have already discovered more friendly musicians. We have e-mailed Negative Space and have received personal responses from Josh and Mark. Negative Space has gained two more fans!

Our last point of niceness would have to be the site you are on right now! Jim has given us the opportunity to share our local music experiences with all of you! Not that it is all that exciting for you, but we assure you that we had a fantasgreat time. Now Jim always says that it is good for his site too, but we feel still special. So to all the nice people out there, keep it up! And if you are mean, then stop it!